Cilla Black's Funeral... Taking photos

[Flashbangandgone]

I was looking at coverage of Cilla Black's funeral earlier... Is it just me that finds it odd, not to mention a bit disrespectful, that so many people took snaps of the funeral cortege as it passed. I really don't get it. I don't see how a photo of a hearse at an awkward angle with the arms and heads of others protruding in is something someone would want... Is it to prove they were there? Is it something that will go in the family album? Is it to reminisce over fondly in the coming weeks?

Why do so many people record their live rather than actually live them?... the worst example I know being a colleague a few years back bemoaned how he missed his daughter's birthdays as he spent the whole time videoing them...

I agree, I find it somewhat uncomfortable and disrespectful when people are taking candid photos like that. It is different if it is someone particularly close and the photos are for a reason, and taken with the family's permission. But random photos of the hearse or coffin - seems wrong.

However,

Why do so many people record their live rather than actually live them?

You can do both. I have a camera with me much of the time, especially at special events, days out and holidays. I love taking photographs. However, I have never complained about missing out due to taking photographs. For me, taking the photographs is something I want and choose to do, and it in no way detracts from my enjoyment of what I am doing/where I am. But I have to say that I tend to take photos, I rarely video - photos take seconds to take, I can imagine taking a long video is much more tying.

It's the videos rather than photos I'm rally referring to when asking Why do so many people record their live rather than actually live them? I also take photos like you do.

It's round the corner from me.

There were people lining the route at least 2 hours before the funeral started. I think it's an occasion for them.

I have never taken photos at any funeral I have ever had to go to, and those were for family members.

To me it just isn't acceptable in the same way as it is for weddings.

I would be even less inclined to photograph the funeral cortege of someone who wasn't a family member. I would feel it was bordering on the disrespectful.

There will be plenty of photographs of Cilla Black's funeral available online via the media coverage. Her family will be expecting that due to the fact that she was such a big celebrity. Other than that though, I think people should just watch respectfully.

Ultimately, it is a big family funeral. Not really a tourist attraction.

I don't understand how people can complain about someone taking photos or video footage of a funeral while they are watching video footage and photos of that funeral on tv.

I do think it's bizarre how many people watch significant events on the screens of their phones but I don't think what they were doing was any more disrespectful than what the news media were doing.

My thoughts exactly Gold!

not far from me either!

Can't be doing with filming stuff.

I don't understand how people can complain about someone taking photos or video footage of a funeral while they are watching video footage and photos of that funeral on tv.

I see your point, but I was watching the news rather than specifically tuned in to watch the funeral... Also, it's a little different I think. It would be odd for there to be no coverage of the event in the media, but a media scrum of a thousand flashbulbs and a blow-by-blow "live" newsfeed as per the BBC seems rather excessive and prurient.

Also, regarding the people taking photos, it just seems odd to me.... What are they going to do with those photos? What are they going to regret if they don't take some snaps?

I wonder that about people taking photos all the time.

You can get video footage and photos of most events, people and places online or in brochures and programmes of a much higher quality than you could take yourself on a mobile phone. Why waste the experience staring at it on a tiny screen?

I'm quite a keen photographer and, when there is something specific to take photos of, e.g. my children and their friends having fun while camping, I'll take dozens, but I wouldn't bother taking photos just because a famous person walked past or while sightseeing. What's the point?

Do people actually ever go back and look at all these photos/videos?

I take lots of photos too, but of stuff I think I'll want to look back on - mostly of family and children as they grow up, but I agree about sightseeing... If i wanted to look at say St Peter's in Rome to remind me of my visit in the spring, I'd look photos online, as these would be far better than anything I could possibly take. It would be different if my partner or I were in the shot as that would be creating a memory of me/us at the place.